USH'S MATRIX GAME 2006 FOURTH ASSIGNMENT (PHILOSOPHY)- 'The Door'

"There is a virus shield. When introduced to a subject it interferes with the Virus' transmission onto that virtual image. It prevents the Virus from reaching the physical body and so renders the effect void.

"This provides complete protection. But it is of no use to those already infected."

"So then how do we get this virus shield and use it on so many people?"

Sennacherib is silent again, and a wide smile plays across his face.

Berserker returns his smile he knows this isn't good.

"Has anyone ever told you Big Guy you have a face and smile only a mother could love."

"Can't you hear them? They know..."

"I suppose now we face your minions once again," Azrael mutters, "Why bother killing us if we're already doomed?"

"How do we activate the virus shield?" Klez asks, drawing his guns and looking warily towards the holes.

Do we hear them skittering around?

"Are you saying that your minions know how to activate the virus shield?" Heph asks. "Or are you saying that they know we're hear and want to find out if we're good with a side of wine..."

Yes, you can hear the skittering. Sennacherib laughs.

"Such purity. Even to the very end, they fulfill their purpose." He steps behidn the throne and reaches up into the darkness.

He pulls down a giant metal bar.

"My followers do not accepot my judgment. They come now to finish us all."

"So their purpose overrides even their will to exist? Are they not intelligent enough to understand that they will die if Matrix dies?

Do you have any escape route prepared?"

"They exist only to die in the pursuit oif their duty. To kill you is to annihilate humanity. They would die for that many times over."

He pulls a hidden chain in the darkness, and the wall behind the throne starts to open, slowly.

"At least you are not like them- but the perfect General needs soldiers like this, and nothing more..."- Melkor decides that it is not the time for such discussions, and spreads his attention between the sounds and the opening wall.

So this tunnel will take us outside their reach?"

"No, they can reach anywhere within. The passage takes you deeper into the fortress. You must head upwards and find the laboratory. The shield is within."

"What about you? Can you handle them?"

Heph cracks his knuckles and neck, preparing to fight the nasty beasts.

"Time to go," Heph says, grabbing Melkor by the shoulder. "Now."

Sirin checks her pistols and looks up at Sennacherib, stepping towards the door that the King has revealed.

Can we fight in our state?

Ush said we're in good condition, other than the sickness of the Virus. Besides, if we don't fight, we die.

Klez twirls his pistols in his hand.

"Thank you, Sennacherib," Klez says, simply. "Good luck."

Yes.

"We shall see," says Sennacherib.

"When you have the shield, you must escape from the Fortress and make your way north. Some twenty miles to the north of here there is a Pagoda. The Pagoda is an access point to the Matrix's weather control system."

"What do we do, once we're there?" Klez asks.